title: Do drinking games matter? An examination by game type and gender in a mandated student sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  College students who violate alcohol policies engage in riskier alcohol use and demonstrate more problems related to their use than non-violating peers. Drinking games (DG) have been linked to increased alcohol use and negative consequences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study sought to assess potential differences in DG participation among mandated males and females by examining rates of endorsement, types of DG played, and how types of games are related to alcohol use and related consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participant data were obtained from 154 undergraduate students mandated to receive an alcohol intervention,
  
  
  RESULTS
  DG players were found to have higher typical and peak blood alcohol concentrations, consume more drinks per week on average, consume more standard drinks per highest drinking occasion, and to experience a considerably greater number of alcohol-related consequences than non-players. Males endorsed greater participation in DG and cited "team" and "motor" games more often than females. "Gambling" games were endorsed equally by both sexes, but resulted in increased consequences for females only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Engaging in DG results in higher levels of alcohol consumption. The likelihood of consequences experienced may vary by type of DG in which individuals choose to participate, as well as by gender. Results from this study provide information that can be utilized in targeted alcohol programming efforts, not only for a high-risk population such as mandated students, but tailored to the specific needs of males and females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA 02115, USA. alfonja@emmanuel.edu
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Spencer D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Deschenes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D037141:Mandatory Programs; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol